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William McGIRT

USA

Made his Open debut at the age of 37 last July after finally capturing his maiden PGA TOUR title at the 165th attempt in the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village a month earlier.

Following three runner-up finishes it threatened to be another near miss when he went into sudden death against Jon Curran, but McGirt prevailed at the second extra hole. He turned professional in 2004, but it was not until he came second at the 2010 qualifying school that he earned himself a PGA TOUR card. His victory elevated him from 102nd on the world rankings to 44th, but it was his place in the top 20 of the FedEx Cup standings at the end of June which made him exempt for Royal Troon.

He has twice been second at the Canadian Open and his other runner-up finish was at the 2015 Sandersons Farm Championship. He entered 2016 having played only one major in his life – a missed cut in the 2012 PGA Championship - but was joint 10th at the same event last August and by making it through the FedEx Cup play-offs to the season-ending Tour Championships qualified for Royal Birkdale.

Key Info

Age:

38

Turned pro:

2004

Previous Opens:

2

Top finish:

0th

Qualified / Exempt:

4, 12

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Exemptions

4The first 50 players on the OWGR for Week 21, 2017.12Top 30 players from the Final 2016 FedExCup Points List.